Jordan Romano, Edwin Díaz named July's top relief arms

August 2nd, 2022

All-Star closer Edwin Díaz of the New York Mets has been voted the National League Reliever of the Month for the second consecutive month, and All-Star closer Jordan Romano of the Toronto Blue Jays has been voted the American League Reliever of the Month for July.

Díaz earned his seventh career Reliever of the Month Award and his second in a row. The last Mets reliever to take home monthly honors other than Edwin was his bullpen-mate Seth Lugo in July 2019. Díaz is the first Major League reliever to win consecutive Reliever of the Month Awards since All-Star Josh Hader in May-June 2019. Romano claimed his second career Reliever of the Month Award and his second of the 2022 campaign (also April). The last Blue Jays hurler other than Romano to win AL Reliever of the Month was B.J. Ryan in May 2008.

Edwin Díaz, New York Mets (@sugardiaz39)
• The Puerto Rico native made 11 scoreless appearances for the Mets and converted each of his seven save opportunities. Logged 25 strikeouts while surrendering just one walk and two hits across 11.1 innings pitched.
• Enters play today with 30 of his last 39 outs being recorded via the strikeout. Paces Major League relievers with 84 punchouts on the season.
• Overall, has struck out 52.5% of batters faced (84/160), the highest strikeout rate by a relief pitcher through 42 appearances of a season in MLB history.
• The 2018 Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year has not allowed a run in his last 15 outings dating back to June 22nd, covering 14.1 innings. Is 1.2 innings shy of his career-high scoreless streak of 16.0 innings.

Jordan Romano, Toronto Blue Jays
• The Canada native made 10 appearances for the Blue Jays while logging a 0.84 ERA across 10.2 innings of work. Converted each of his seven save opportunities and posted a 12:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio while allowing just four hits.
• On July 17th against the Royals, became the seventh pitcher in franchise history to save his 20th game before the Midsummer Classic.
• The 29-year-old set a new career high by saving his AL-leading 24th game of the season on Sunday against the Tigers (23 saves in 2021).
• Has been particularly dominant at Rogers Centre this season. Across 22 appearances and 23.0 innings pitched, has allowed just a single earned run (0.39 ERA) while tallying 25 punchouts and yielding just 11 hits and five walks.